The three leprechauns Ari, Boo, and Col have a job to do. They must race to where they’ve buried the pot of gold and dig it up before the rainbow comes. The clouds are already gathering, so there’ll be no time for mischief along the way.

But Mrs. Ballybunion’s cow, Miss Maud Murphy’s hen, and Old Jamie soon find out that the three clever fellows can’t resist having a little fun on the road to Paddywhackers Bog. For, in addition to putting a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, mischief is what leprechauns do!

I was looking for a book to stick in my bag this weekend, in case I get a chance to read with one of my favorite little girls, and since Monday is St. Patrick’s Day, I went with That’s What Leprechauns Do.

Leprechauns have a very special duty, to dig up their pot of gold and place it in just the right spot for the rainbow to end. On this particular day, Ari, Boo, and Col are on their way to do just that, but can’t help causing a little mischief along the way. After all, that’s what leprechauns do.

It’s a cute enough book. The leprechauns are amusing and their mischief-making is cute and harmless enough, but they didn’t make me laugh out loud. it’s fun to read aloud, with the leprechauns having a bit of a lilt to their speech and the occasional odd phrase, like “tootled some grass-stalk music.”

The illustrations by McCully are charming. Cute and colorful, they fit the light-heartedness of the story well.

It’s a cute book to share with pre-schoolers and early elementary kids this time of year.

In the back, there’s a note from the author with tips about finding that pot of gold that’s waiting for someone with “a bit of magic, a bit of luck, and a bit of imagination.”